Baked into a year filled with so many positive developments for the Seattle Mariners, Jarred Kelenic’s struggles at the plate remain a proverbial sore thumb. He’s arguably the team’s best super-prospect since Felix Hernandez. He’s also a rookie and he’s looking like it. Following in the footsteps of developmental failures like Dustin Ackley, Jesus Montero, Alex Jackson and Nick Franklin certainly does not help the public narrative.
Mariners fans have seen guys like Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Fernando Tatis Jr.. and Wander Franco find immediate success at the big league level, wondering why Kelenic isn’t fitting into that bucket.